President Joe Biden is going on the offensive against his old friend Sen. Lindsey Graham’s (R-S.C.) proposal for a nationwide abortion ban.
But his argument against it this week had some major issues.
During a Democratic fundraiser in New York City, Biden brought up Graham’s proposal to ban abortion nationwide after 15 weeks of pregnancy.
“Think about what these guys are talking about,” he said, according to The Washington Post, adding, “No exceptions — rape, incest — no exceptions, regardless of age.”
Earlier this month, Graham introduced the Protecting Pain-Capable Unborn Children from Late-Term Abortions Act. The bill would impose a nationwide ban on abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy.
There’s a major problem with Biden’s comments: Graham’s proposal does include exceptions for rape, incest, and when the life of the mother is at risk.
Biden went on to bring up his Catholic faith to criticize the proposal as he said, “I happen to be a practicing Roman Catholic.”
“My church doesn’t even make that argument now,” he added.
Biden on national abortion restrictions proposed by Sen. Graham and other Republicans:
— Jordan Fabian (@Jordanfabian) September 22, 2022
“No exceptions. Rape, incest, no exceptions”
“I happen to be a practicing Roman Catholic, my church doesn’t even make that argument”
On the issue of abortion, the Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception.”
“From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person – among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life,” it adds.
In Sept. 2021, Pope Francis reiterated the Catholic Church’s view that “abortion is murder,” according to the Catholic News Agency.
Still, the Post notes, “Surgery to save the life of the mother is permitted even if it inadvertently causes the death of the fetus.”
Perhaps Biden does not actually know what is in Graham’s bill, and his aides told him it does not include exceptions. In this case, they are dishonest staffers who are doing a disservice to the president by providing him with false information.
Or, it is possible the president just decided the bill does not include exceptions because he was told that is what Republicans want — or that is what he believes they want. But you cannot simply make up information about a proposal to attack it.
And one final option is that Biden was just talking, and words just came out of his mouth that he did not really mean. After all, we were told by White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre that he was walking and “looking around” when he said the COVID-19 pandemic was over. However, according to her, he did not really mean the pandemic is over.
The last option is really not ideal. We don’t want a president who just kind of says stuff he doesn’t actually mean because he’s walking and looking around.
Mr. President, if you’re going to attack a policy proposal, at least be honest about it.